Princess Trails

India

In Depth

Princess Trails is a small yet experienced company organizing Horseback Safaris and Horseriding Holidays in Rajasthan. Our base is the romantic city of Udaipur, situated in the heart of the Aravalli-Mountains.

As an Indo-German family business, we aim to provide our guests with the best quality and most unique equestrian experience possible. We combine Indian hospitality with European standards of horse keeping. Our main concern and highest priority is the safety of horse and rider. Our Horse Safaris go off-the beaten tracks to show our riders the unspoiled nature and hidden beauty of our country. Our trails lead through the jungles of the Aravalli Mountains with its rich wildlife, over the fertile Malwa Plain with its rich black soil and many small agricultural villages, and down to the vast expanse of the Thar Desert.

Along our carefully selected routes interesting sites are waiting for our riders. That may be an old fort, laying in ruins for many centuries, an ancient temple with exquisite stone carvings, a village with its friendly and down-to-earth people going about their daily business by ploghing fields with their oxen, grazing their sheep and goats or fetching an earthware pot of water from the village well.

Many of our Safaris trek through the Wildlife Sanctuaries of Rajasthan such as Sita-Mata, Kumbhalgarh or Jaisamand. Here a number of wild animals can be seen, including deer, antelope, birds and even bears, panthers and hyenas. Some pre-arranged Safaris connect major Indian festivals such as the Pushkar Camel Fair or the Cattle Market in Balotra.

And last but not least, our Safaris also show the riders part of the rich heritage of India's glorious past. In many places riders can visit old Havelis (houses of former nobleman), Rawlas (village forts) and Palaces and even stay overnight in some of them.

We use the indigenous breed of this region, the horses of the former Maharajas and zamindars (nobles)- the Marwaris. Easily identified by their lyre-shaped ears which, when pricked, form a perfect arch, Marwari Horses are comfortable to ride, forward going and perfectly adapted to the geographic and climatic conditions of Rajasthan.

Activities

Ecotourism, Inn-to-Inn Riding, Pack Trips, Hiking

Additional Activities

Bird Watching, Carriage Driving, Children's Programs, Cooking Classes, Ecotourism, English Riding, Trails, Holiday Programs, Horseback Riding Lessons, Safaris, Spa, Swimming Pool, Trail Riding, Vegetarian Friendly, Ayurvedic Treatments, Sightseeing programs,Local dance and music shows.

Accommodations

On our Safaris, riders stay overnight either in our Safari Camp or in Heritage Hotels along the way. Our Safari Camps are styled in the spirit of the former hunting camps of the Maharajas, with Indian style tents grouped around the main dining area and a colourful enclosure with a rajasthani pattern imprinted on it.

Riders stay in deluxe double tents with proper beds and mattresses. Warm-water showers and toilet facilities are available on our bathroom trolley. Our camps cater to all of our guests wishes. On most safaris, accommodation is in this style. The reason for this that many of our routes lead through scarcely populated areas away from the usual tourist paths. Very often nights are spent in nature, away from human dwellings.

However all of our campsites are chosen with great care and offer maximum safety and superb views. Away from the busy Indian towns or villages, they are a paradise for nature lovers and bird-watchers.

While staying with us on a Riding Holiday, accommodations are in a middle class hotels in Udaipur or our family owned Rawla (village fort) in a little village near the Sita-Mata Wildlife Sanctuary.

However if you prefer a proper roof over your head, on certain routes, accommodations in Heritage Hotels is possible.

Food

On Safaris, our price includes full boarding with three meals and tea every day. In the morning, breakfast is taken in camp before starting the day ride. We usually serve continental style breakfast with a choice of eggs and fresh fruits of the season. Lunch is either packed for the ride or brought to you by our jeep during the day. After arrival in the camp, tea/coffe and snacks are served to hungry riders. Dinner is prepared Indian style, non-spicy, by our "Chef". Usually our guests have vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices. All non-alcoholic beverages are included in our price. On the ride we give each rider two litres of bottled mineral water.

Area Attractions

Southern Rajasthan sports a great number of smaller and bigger sights of interest. Major attractions are the historic fort at Kumbhalgarh, the Jain Temple of Ranakpur, the dense jungle of the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary or the ancient temple of Jagat with its ancient carvings. But there are countless other smaller sights, both natural and cultural. On every one of our safari trails, our riders have plenty to see and do.